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A
Active Door/Active Leaf	In a door pair, the active leaf is the one that opens first and that usually houses the lock or latch assembly. (See Inactive Door/Inactive Leaf.)
ANSI	American National Standards Institute, which sets three grades for lockset durability. Grade 1: Lockset can withstand 250,000 operation cycles, cylinder guard can withstand 10 hammer blows, and deadbolt and strike can withstand eight blows to the door. Grade 2: Lockset can withstand 150,000 operation cycles, cylinder guard can withstand five hammer blows, and deadbolt and strike can withstand six blows to the door. Grade 3: Lockset can withstand 100,000 operation cycles, cylinder guard can withstand two hammer blows, and deadbolt and strike can withstand four blows to the door.
B
Backplate	The plate on which a handle or knob is mounted.
Backset	An important measurement when choosing door knob and lever sets, the backset is the distance from the center of the knob hole to the edge of the door. A 2-3/8" backset is standard for interior residential doors; 2¾" is another common measurement.
Bar Latch	Simple latch mechanism mounted on the surface of a gate, cabinet door, shutter, or small closet door. Operated by raising a hinged lever attached to the door. Usually includes a flat strike plate, lever, and guide.
Batten	A board used to fasten other boards together or cover a joint.
Boss	A normally circular ornament used to cover joints, such as at the top of table or chair legs.
Box Strike	Strike with dustbox in one piece. (See Strike, Dustbox.)
Butt Hinge	The commonest door hinge. When the door is closed, the two halves are folded tightly. Usually, one half is mortised into the doorframe while other the other is recessed in the stile. While ordinary steel butt hinges are cheap and durable, ball-bearing butt hinges move more smoothly and quietly.
C
Cane Bolt	A type of door fastener that pushes a long metal bolt through two surface-applied brackets and into a socket. Usually used to keep gates and doors in the closed position.
Carriage Bolt	A bolt with a smooth, round head used in wood. Since the head is rounded, a small square section under the head keeps the bolt from spinning while the nut is tightened on the other side.
Casement Window	A common type of window that opens on hinges, like a door. Sometimes opens using a crank mechanism.
Center-to-Center	Measurement from center of one object to the center of another. For door and cabinet pulls, center-to-center usually indicates the distance between fastener holes. For entrance latchsets, center-to-center indicates distance between center of latch and deadbolt.
Clavos	Wrought-head nails used to decorate doors; also Spanish word for nails.
Cremone Bolt	Surface-mounted lock mechanism most often used on French doors. A bolt extends the entire vertical length of the door, so that the knob or lever works to extend the bolt into both the jamb (top of door frame) and sill (bottom of door frame).
Crossbore	Hole drilled into the front of the door, through which the knob or lever assembly will be inserted. Door knobs and levers must fit the crossbore on pre-drilled doors and conceal the hole.
Cylinder Lock or Latch	Any lock or latch mechanism contained in a cylinder. Most commonly used on entry doors where a key cylinder allows lock operation on the exterior and thumbturn is used on the interior. A double cylinder is used in instances where key operation is needed on both sides.
D
Deadlock	A standard deadbolt lock that is operated by key, thumbturn, or combination of both.
Door Stop	In the door hardware industry, a door stop is the strip of molding roughly 1" in width that prevents the door from opening the wrong way. The door stop lines the jamb and also hides the gap between the door and the jamb. (Not to be confused with the wedge-shaped stops used to keep doors open or the protective devices used to keep the door from damaging the wall when opened hard.)
Door Viewer	A device inserted into a door that allows someone on the inside to see outside. Uses a curved lens to magnify the outside image and enlarge field of vision.
Double Cylinder	Two-sided key cylinder that allows key operation on both sides of the door. Useful for instances where the door is situated next to a window, as it prevents a burglar from reaching in and opening a deadbolt thumbturn. (See Single Cylinder.)
Drop Latch	Latch type for doors without a spring and operated by gravity only. (See Latch.)
Dummy	Non-functional door hardware. In door pairs, the inactive door will often have a dummy lever or knob set. (See Inactive Door.)
Dummy Strap	Decorative door hardware that accompanies a normal butt hinge, giving the butt hinge the appearance of an actual strap hinge. (See Strap Hinge.)
Dustbox	In a door lock assembly, the dustbox is a plastic or metal box that sits behind the strike and encases the bolt, protecting it from dust and debris.
E
Edgebore	Hole drilled into the edge of the door, through which the bolt extends once assembly is installed.
Emergency Exit Lockset	Lockset where interior knob or lever retracts both latch and deadbolt at the same time, allowing for quick exit.
Escutcheon	For doors, a metal plate with keyhole and possibly a knob or handle. Used for both decoration and protection.
F
Finial	A decorative cap on hinge pins.
Flush Bolt	A bolt mortised into a door that holds the door closed when the bolt is projected, usually into the head or sill of the doorframe. In contrast with a surface bolt, the flush bolt is mounted flush with either the edge or face of the door. Flush bolts are often used to hold the inactive door in a pair closed, while the active door is kept open for regular use. (See Surface Bolt.)
Frame-and-Panel Door	Method of constructing wood doors so that a panel is framed by supporting pieces. The vertical supporting frame pieces are called stiles, while the horizontal pieces are called rails. When purchasing door hardware for frame-and-panel doors, make sure the stile is wide enough to install the door hardware.
French Doors	A pair of doors with large glass windows that open from the center, often onto a porch or patio. Commonly used with cremone bolts.
Front	The area on the edge of a door where a face plate secures the lock bolt. A common example dimension for interior doors would be 1" x 2¼", for example.
Full-Lip Strike	Standard in less expensive, pre-hung doors. (See Strike for definition of function.)
G
GFCI/Ground Fault	Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter. A sensitive electrical plug designed to automatically shut off electric current in bathrooms, kitchens, exterior waterproof outlets, and other areas where electric shock is a danger. These plugs have a small, exposed reset button.
Grille	For air ducts, outlet directing airflow. Also see register.
Ground Fault	See GFCI.
H
Handedness (Doors)	When viewing the door from outside*, handedness is side on which the door hinges are hung. For example, a left-handed door would have the hinges on the left side of the doorframe and open inwards. Most doors open inwards; reverse left-hand and reverse right-hand are defined as doors that swing outwards. Door handedness is important when choosing some door hardware, such as levers and mortise locks, but is most often unimportant for knobs, handles, or other hardware that can fit either left- or right-handed doors. *Outside is defined as outside the house or outside the room the doorway leads to.
Handedness (Levers)	This specification is necessary when purchasing a “half-dummy” lever (single surface-mounted lever). Lever handedness is determined by which direction the lever handle will point, not by which side of the door it is mounted on. For example, a left-hand lever will be mounted on the right side of the door with its handle pointing toward the door hinges on the left.
Hasp	A type of lock with a hinged metal strap that closes over the pieces to be locked. The strap has a slot to accept a U-shaped staple to which a padlock can be attached.
Hinge Knuckle	The round joint of a hinge through which a pin is inserted.
I
Inactive Door/Inactive Leaf	In a door pair, the inactive leaf is the one that usually stays closed (with help of a Surface Bolt or Flush Bolt). The inactive leaf is opened after the active leaf, and also houses the strike receiving the latch bolt. (See Active Door/Active Leaf.)
K
Keyed Alike	Locks are identically keyed (can be used by the same key).
Keyway	Slot in lock cylinder where key is inserted.
Kick Plate	A metal plate positioned horizontally at the bottom of doors where people often use their feet to hold or kick the door open. Used to protect the door from scuffing.
L
Latch	Also called latch mechanism or tubular latch, a latch in door hardware terms means a spring-loaded bolt that keeps a door closed, and is operated by turning a knob or lever. A latch is the most common means of keeping interior doors shut when closed. Latch bolts commonly have a beveled end so the door can be closed simply by pushing and without having to turn the knob or lever. A metal plate, or strike, is usually mortised into the door jamb or inactive door to receive the latch bolt. (See Drop Latch.)
Latchset	A set of door hardware comprising a latch, strike, spindle, and knob/lever. Used to fasten a door closed and open the door by turning a knob/lever or operating a latchgrip handle. Does not necessarily include a locking mechanism. (See Latch, Strike, Spindle, and Latchgrip.)
Lockset	A complete set of door hardware used for the entrance door or some other door requiring keyed entry. Includes a lock mechanism; some type of knob, lever, pull, or latchgrip handle; and other accessories.
Louver	A fixture that controls/limits entrance of rain, sunlight, or air through an opening. For air ducts, a louver is the part of a floor register that lies beneath the grille. Fixed or adjustable slats regulate the flow of air.
M
Machine Screw	Screw that serves either as a small bolt, with a nut, or is used with a tapped hole.
Mortise	Any recess-a hole, slot, or grove-that hides an element so they can lie flush. Most door hinges are mortised into the frame and door stile, for example.
Mortise Lock	Lock assembly that fits into a precut slot (mortise) inside the edge of the door.
P
Patio Deadbolt	Deadbolt operated by inside thumbturn only; there is no key operation.
Passage	Passage knob or lever sets do not include locks and refer to interior doors only. (Compare with Privacy knob and lever sets.)
Pewter	Any metal alloy primarily composed of tin. Usually has a flat silver appearance.
Pintle	The central pin or bolt on which allows the hinge to pivot.
Pocket Door	Type of interior door that slides into an opening in the wall, thus saving floor space. Requires special door hardware, such as a flush pull or lock.
Pre-Drilled Door	Wood door that has been predrilled at the lumber mill with standard holes (crossbore, edgebore, preparation depth) for knobs, levers, latches, and other hardware.
Preparation Depth	The depth bored into a door from the edge. This measurement is especially important for doors with large windows, since the preparation depth cannot exceed the thickness of the stile to receive the lock.
Privacy	Privacy knob or lever sets are lockable, either by a push button or some other built-in locking mechanism. Usually used for bathrooms, bedrooms, or other interior doors where lockable doors are desirable. Because the locks are not meant for heavy security, there is usually an emergency entry feature included. (Compare with Passage knob and lever sets.)
Push Plate	A metal plate for push-open doors that protects the door from wear and grime.
PVD	Physical Vapor Deposition. A metal-plating process that uses vaporized zirconium, nitrogen, and other gases to form a durable surface resistant to tarnishing and discoloration. Used with polished brass or gold finishes.
R
Reveal	In any door or window that is recessed into a wall, the reveal is the surface perpendicular to and bridging the outer surface of the wall and the surface of the window or door.
Rim Latch	A type of bar latch operated by a latchgrip thumbpiece. The latch bar and hinge are mounted on the outer surface of the door, on the interior side. On the exterior, the latchgrip handle has a thumbpiece that extends through the door to raise the latch bar and allow the door to be opened. Comes in two types: rim latch with flat strike plate (for passage or doors that open inwards), and reverse bevel rim latches with box strike (for doors that open outwards, such as closet or storm doors).
Rim Lock	A type of surface-mounted, box-shaped lock from America's colonial period. Lock mechanism is mounted on the interior side of the door, while the strike box is surface-mounted on the door frame.
Roller Catch	A type of door fastener that pushes a spring-loaded roller (mounted into the door) into an indented, jamb-mounted strike plate. Roller and strike plate can also be switched, where the plate is on the door and roller on the jamb. A variation often used on cabinets pushes a projection between two spring-loaded rollers. Similar to a Ball Catch.
Rose (Rosette)	Also called a rose, a rosette is a small, decorative plate surrounding the base of a doorknob or handle that hides the joint of the handle and surface.
S
Sash	A window framework that holds panes in place.
Sash Window	A sash window usually refers to a double-hung setup that slides up and down. Another common setup is the Casement Window.
Shutter Dogs	Metal holders that hold shutters open.
Sill	The horizontal, bottommost part of a door or window frame. In a door, the sill rests on the foundation and supports the frame structure. In a window, the sill usually has a ledge-like protrusion.
Single Cylinder	One-sided key cylinder that allows key operation only on one side of the door. For entry sets, a single cylinder usually operates the lock from the exterior while a thumbturn is used on the interior. (See Double Cylinder.)
Spindle	A metal bar extending from a knob or lever into the locking or latch mechanism, allowing the knob or lever to operate the bolt.
Stile	The vertical elements of a doorframe or window frame; normally where hinges are attached and lock bolt is received. For example, if a door has a window, the stiles support the door on either side of the window.
Storm Door	An exterior door that protects and insulates an entrance door from harsh weather. Storm doors can be fitted with either screens or windows, depending on the season.
Strap Hinge	For door hardware, a strap hinge is a hinge with at least one long strap that extends across the surface of the gate or door, often with rivets. (See Dummy Strap.)
Strike	A plate or other opening that is part of the lock assembly. Its function is to receive the bolt when the assembly is locked. In a single-door setup, the strike is mortised into the doorjamb; in a double-door setup, the strike is mortised into the inactive door.
Surface Bolt	In a double-door setup, the surface bolt is used to secure the inactive door by pinning it to the floor or door jamb head. Secured to the surface of the door and operated manually with a small knob.
T
T-Strike	Is larger than a full-lip strike and covers dustboxes in more expensive, custom installations. (See Strike for definition of function.)
Thumbpiece	Used on latchgrip handles, the thumbpiece is a metal lever that extends through the door to raise the bar in a rim latch assembly. Operated with the thumb.
Thumbturn	Also called a turnpiece, a thumbturn is a lock component turned with thumb and fingers, thereby projecting or retracting the accompanying dead bolt or latch bolt.
Tongue and Groove	Method of fitting wood planks where a protruding edge (tongue) on the side of one plank fits into a small groove on the side of the next plank. Also called dressed and matched.
U
UL	Underwriters Labratories is an independent safety certification organization that maintains the highest safety standards for door hardware.
W
Wood Screw	Screw with a tapered shaft that drills its own hole into the wood when driven.

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